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On nine minutes Jacob Murphy sent a shot high and wide as Newcastle posed some early questions of the home defence.

Moments later, Murphy won a free-kick and surprisingly it was Florian Lejeune who stepped up to take it but the ball crashed off the defensive wall.

West Brom then earned themselves a chance 25-yards from goal through a set-piece but Salomon Rondon followed the example of Lejeune.

With 19 minutes on the clock Ritchie’s right-wing cross caused problems as Ahmed Hegazi and Ben Foster got themselves in a muddle before the ball was hacked clear.

Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benitez during the Premier League match at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday November 28, 2017. (Image: PA)

At that stage it was looking good for Newcastle but West Brom roared back.

Newcastle were handed a warning shot seconds later as Rondon’s cheeky effort from 30-yards out clipped the crossbar.

Murphy earned his side another free-kick on 26 minutes but after DeAndre Yedlin dinked it to Ritchie he drove it over the bar.

Ten minutes before the break Isaac Hayden’s mis-hit shot was gathered by Foster but West Brom’s threat was demonstrated again a couple of minutes later when Hal Robson-Kanu’s header was gathered by Darlow on the line.

Robson-Kanu had another chance before half-time but somehow steered wide at the front post after a left-wing cross.

However, the Welsh international star had the final say of the first half as Newcastle continued a worrying trend.

Kieran Gibbs’ cross from the left was met by Robson-Kanu in stoppage time and for the third game in a row Newcastle conceded right at the end of the opening period.

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Two set-plays from Ritchie at the start of the second half came and went before Mikel Merino’s stinging left-footed shot was pushed away by Foster on 51 minutes.

Yet the ineptitude and dozy defending that cost United just before the break returned before the hour mark.

On 56 minutes Phillps’ right-wing cross picked out Sam Field and with the Albion man unmarked he fired home at the back post to double the lead.

The alarm bells began to sound at that point but Newcastle showed they DO have character to battle in the Premier League.

Indeed, Newcastle hauled themselves back into the contest three minutes later.

Ritchie’s corner was whipped to the back post and the skipper Ciaran Clark stooped low to make it 2-1.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Ciaran Clark of Newcastle United celebrates scoring the first Newcastle goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Robson-Kanu drilled a shot at Darlow on 62 minutes but this time the goalkeeper gathered well.

Newcastle made their first change of the game when Rolando Aarons was introduced to replace Murphy with the former Bristol City trainee pushed out to the left-hand side.

Benitez then threw Aleksandar Mitrovic on with 17 minutes remaining as he replaced the ineffective Joselu.

Despite added presence in the final third Newcastle only managed to muster a shot from Ayoze Perez on the turn before Benitez turned to his subs bench again.